Family fun with a planting project
Create memories to treasure
FAMILY time is very important. In the blink of an eye, your children will be all grown up, so it’s essential to have fun with them, creating memories to always look back on.
Take one day out of your child’s busy holiday schedule and spend some time bonding over a DIY planter project – one everybody can be involved in. Get outside and have fun! Parents, please remember that although the kids are helping you, keep the harder jobs for yourselves – we don’t want any tears, cuts or sores while the family is getting their creative juices flowing on this project.
1. A few days before you would like to plant up the container, start by helping the little ones to take the large succulent out of its pot, keeping it in the original soil. Place it aside.
2. Take the pot from the succulent you’ve just put aside, brush or wipe the outside to make sure it is free from sand. Turn it upside down and place it on the foil-wrapped drip tray. Cover the pot and tray with the hessian cloth.
3. The next step is to start mixing the cement in the bucket – parents, you may like to do this step yourself and save yourselves from washing dirty kids’ clothes. The mixture should be three parts sand, two parts cement and 1½ parts water.
4. Mix the cement until the mixture is quite sloppy, like a thin milkshake. This allows for it to be poured easily over the hessian, leaving the pot in. You could opt for a thicker mixture – which will mean you are able to remove the hessian sacking and cement from the pot.
5. Put on some gloves, both yourself and the kiddies, and start pouring the cement mixture over the hessian. Get your little ones to help you spread the mixture in each and every corner of the hessian, making sure it all gets covered.
6. Make sure you will be able to pick up the planter, once dry, by clearing away the excess cement from the drip tray. Place this excess cement into the bucket.
7. After removing your gloves, get creative. Help your children to decorate the planter with the shells. Go wild and let your kids get those crafty juices flowing. Create a star-shape by placing and pushing the shells into the concrete, leaving the shells to dry in the mixture.
8. Once the cement is dry, the planter is ready to be removed carefully from the drip tray. While the adults turn the planter around to get it ready for planting, let the youngsters throw the foil away.
9. All together now, line the bottom of the pot with the stones followed by a layer of the potting mix. Remember to leave about 5cm for the larger plant’s roots.
10. In the centre of the pot, help the little ones to plant the large succulent. Once the large plant is settled, plant the smaller plants around it, making sure to cover the roots with soil.
11. To finish off the perfect planter and the perfect DIY family day, get your kids to write anything they like on the chalkboard and stick it into the soil for a sentimental touch. — Life is a Garden Campaign on behalf of the SA Nursery Association. For more information, visit www.lifeisagarden.co.za